Musanze Caves
The Musanze caves are a well-kept treasure within Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, which is renowned for being the last remaining territory for the critically endangered mountain gorilla species.
One of the 52 caverns in Rwanda’s Northern Province is Musanze Cave formed due to volcanic activity. The Albertine rift valley contains the cave, which is thought to have developed as far back as 60 million years ago. The 2 km long tunnel was created by Cenozoic volcanic rocks. Lava basaltic strata from Mount Bisoke and Mount Sabyinyo created the cave.
The entrance to the Musanze cave is 10 kilometers wide, and there are several routes inside. The interior of the caverns is often cold and quiet, with streams of water slowly trickling out of holes in the rock ceiling and down the rocky walls offering an exhilarating experience. You can choose to visit the Musanze caves after going on a mountain gorilla trip in Rwanda, seeing the golden monkeys, or climbing a nearby volcano.
The Musanze Caves had a vital role in prehistoric times when the local Kinyarwanda tribes utilized them as the location for crowning their new rulers. More recently, the caves gained notoriety as a haven for thousands of refugees fleeing Rwanda’s 1994 genocide.
The Musanze cave allows tourists to lose themselves in nature, take in the local vegetation, and enjoy beautiful photo backdrops. You will be able to see many kinds of bats in the caverns, which you can identify, photograph, and get lost in the maze of passages. The exhilarating experience is perfect for visitors interested in taking a safari to such locations.
A floor that resembles stairs has been placed inside the caves to make it easier for visitors to navigate them. There are guides available at the park reception who may give you a briefing before your activity.
The geological importance of the Musanze Caves
Geographers and geologists who are interested in learning how this cave differed from the other caves in the area and how they formed are also well-known for visiting this location. The Musanze caves have approximately 31 additional entrances, and this cave was formally inaugurated as a tourist destination in 2013 and has since welcomed large numbers of people. A bat colony will greet you as you enter the main entrance, which has a massive opening as large as that of a church.
The Rwanda Development Board oversees the management of Musanze caves, and the Rwanda Defense Forces are stationed there to protect both the caves and their visitors since they could serve as hiding places for rebels.
The Buhanga Eco Park, which welcomes guests of all ages, can be added to a trip to Musanze Caverns. Another cave in the Buhanga Eco Park served as the former coronation site for the Kings of prehistoric Rwanda. In addition to visiting the nearby twin lakes Burera and Ruhondo, these two locations make excellent selections for a cultural tour of Rwanda.
This adventure takes roughly two to three hours to accomplish, and Musanze caves are accessible throughout the year.
It takes 90 minutes to get from Kigali city to the Musanze caves. Depending on your budget, you can stay the night close to the caves in one of the many lodging alternatives.
What is the best time to visit Musanze caves?
Wet and dry seasons are the two seasons that characterize this region. The Musanze cave is best visited during the dry season, but because it is located in a rain forest, rainfall is likely to occur at any time regardless of the time of year so ensure to be well prepared with great hiking shoes, rain jackets, and heavy clothes or any other things you may need on a safari.
